cornell notes

Patronage/nepotism

When a bureaucrat is hired based on loyalty/friendship NOT MERIT

Via a civil service exam

Where bureaucrats are hired based on skill and test performance, not politics

Where beer cracks are hired, focusing on loyalty to the president and their agenda

When the president hire someone specifically because they support the president’s goals

Political appointment with Senate approval

Top level positions ( such as cabinet secretaries, or agency heads) that are appointed by the president must be confirmed by the Senate

Political appointment without Senate approval

Typically, with lower level positions, the president can just fill them directly without approval

The hatch act

A federal law that limits the political activities of government employees. Designed to ensure workers do their jobs without political bias.

In other words “ you can have political opinions, but you can’t use your government job to push them”

Independent regulatory commission

Type of government agency created to overlook/oversee a specific part of the economy or society. They are meant to be free from political bias.

Independent executive agency

Federal agency that is part of the executive branch, but not one of the 15 cabinet executive departments. The president still appoints the agency head.

These agencies are typically created when a function is important enough to require its own entity or too specialized to fit into a cabinet

Ex: NASA

Administrative discretion.

The power given to bureaucratic agencies and government officials to make decisions on how to implement and enforce laws when the war isn’t entirely specific.

Chevron deference

When a federal agency is interpreting a federal statute where Congress did not address a specific issue. The agency gets to decide what it wants to as long as the court deems the agencies decision reasonable

Iron triangle

The iron triangle is made of Congress, agencies, and interest groups

Congress: give us budget/legal power ( helps agency run their programs smoothly)

Agency: implement laws and gives info (makes Congress look good and like they are handling their business well)

Interest groups: brings in money/ support (both congress and agency love the influence)